Activities help plan for emergencies

October 16, 2005

Howard County Executive James N. Robey has proclaimed this week as the county's first Community Readiness Week. The effort, planned in cooperation with the Community Emergency Response Network, is designed to heighten awareness of the importance of disaster preparedness for individuals and families.

Community partners who are members of the network will sponsor activities focused on ways people can take responsibility for their own and their families' safety in a man-made or natural disaster in support of the county's overall preparedness.

The week starts with a leadership summit, co-sponsored by the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, when members of the county's business community will have an opportunity to hear from government officials about the state of Howard County's preparedness, lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina, and business continuity planning.

The meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. tomorrow in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City.

The week's activities include:

A Neighbor-to-Neighbor Public Workshop at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia. The mission of Neighbor-to-Neighbor is to encourage communication within families and neighborhoods.

A multi-agency, table-top planning exercise and discussion of a local flooding scenario (part of a required yearly review of stormwater management emergency action plans) from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Howard County Bureau of Utilities, 8270 Old Montgomery Road, Columbia.

Announcement of the activation of Howard County's Medical Reserve Corps Unit, the newest component of CERN, at 1 p.m. Thursday at the breezeway entrance to Howard County General Hospital, 5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia.

The announcment will be made by Cmdr. Robert J. Tosatto, national director of the Medical Reserve Corps Program. County Executive James N. Robey, CERN Chairman Richard M. Krieg of the Horizon Foundation and health officials will discuss the program's contribution to Howard County's preparedness.

A Get Ready Room at the 50+ Expo. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia.

A kiosk at the Glenwood branch library and other public buildings to promote preparedness. A volunteer training session is planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County, 10221 Wincopin Circle, Columbia.